Tire-inflating apparatus.



F. A. RUFF. TIRE INFLATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1912.

Patented May 26, 1914.

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FREDERICK A. RUFF, or NEVJABK, new JERSEY.

'TIBE-IN FLATING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. RUFF, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essex,and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tire lnflating Apparatus, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to an apparatus in which anelectrically 0perated or controlled pump or source of air supply isadapted to be placed in operation by means adapted to be released by acoin so that air under pressure may be used for infiating the tires ofautomobiles or for other purposes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide simple and efficientmeans whereby a source of air supply may be made accessible byelectrically controlled means adapted to be released by a coin and saidelectrically controlled means automatically disconnected so that itshuts ofi the supply of air when further use of the same is unnecessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient meansin which a motor driven pump may be electrically connected to a coincontrolled apparatus to adapt the said pump to be placed intooperationby dropping a coin into an apparatus independent of the pumpingmechanism and thereby permit air from the pump to be utilized for theinflation of automobile tires, and as soon as the tire has becomeinflated and the connection with the pump detached the electric currentwill be automatically shut off so that the pump may be stopped or thesource of air supply otherwise cut off.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and efiicientpneumatically controlled means by which an electric cir cuit may beautomatically shut off and the said means held against operation exceptby being released by a coin.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinaftermore particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out inthe claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section andpartly diagrammatic of one form of apparatus embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of the device, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 26, 1912.

Patented'May' 26, 1914.

Serial No. 717,140.

scctionbeing taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1.. Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryview of the slightly difierent form of coin-controlled means; and Fig.at shows another form of means for restoring the switch arm to a lockedposition.

TVhile I show the invention as applied to a particular form or source ofair supply, it

will be understood that the means for supplying the air for inflatingpurposes may be of any suitable character, and that such parts, as wellas other features of the invention, may be changed without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

The casing 10 maybe rectangular and of a casting or of any suitablematerial and may have a rear plate or member 11, a top plate 12, abottom plate 13 and side members or plates 1.41- and 15, the openportion being adapted to be closed by a cover plate 16 of any suitablekind and detachably or otherwise held to the casing. A pump 17 of anysuitable kind whether reciprocatory or rotary may have a hoseconnection, as 18, at tached thereto and of any desired length, andadapted to drive the pump in an electric motor 19 by which air may beforced through the hose 18 under pressure. The hose may have a pressuregage at any desired point therein to indicate the pressure in the hoseand may be provided with a coupling member, as 20, by which the hose maybe attached to the usual inflating valve for pneumatic tires so thatwhen the pump is placed in operation as will be presently described airmay be forced through the hose and the pneumatic tire inflated insteadof by manual means as ordinarily employed. The motor may be connected bythe wires 21 and 22 to a suitable socket piece 23 and this socket piecemaybe electrically connected by the wires 24 and 25 to the terminals 26and 27 respectively, of an electric switch which forms a part of anormally open electric circuit. The terminal 26 is in the form of a bandhaving a spring contact member or finger 28 and is attached to a switcharm or lever 29. This arm or lever is pivoted at 30 to a part of thecasing 10 and has one end extending through a slot 81 in the casing side14. The outer end of the arm 29 is provided with a handle 32 by whichsaid arm may be forced downward to cause the switch contact 28 to engagethe contact or terminal 27 and complete the circuit through the wires24: and 25, socket 23 and wires 21 and 22 to the electric motor, therebystarting the pump and causing the air to be forced under pressurethrough the hose 18.

A latch or catch 33 is pivotally held at 34 to a lug on the side 14 ofthe casing. This latch 33 is in the form of a gravity arm and isprovided with a cam portion 35 and a slot 36 into which the body of thearm 29 is adapted to pass so as to be partly spanned by the lips 37 and38 formed in said latch by the slot 36. The cam 35 is in the path of theopen end of a coin chute 39 the upper end of which is open for thereception of a coin, as a nickel for example, so that when the coin isdropped into the chute 39 the weight thereof in riding down the camportion 35 of the latch will force the same to one side therebyreleasing the latch from the manually operated arm 29, the coin beingsustained in this position to hold the latch temporarily in a releasedposition. As soon as the latch is released, the arm 29 may be forceddownward by means of the handle 32 to complete the electric circuitthrough the switch contact members 27 and 28 in which position the arm29 will be held until released.

To automatically shut oil the electric current and to stop the pump,various means may be employed. As shown, a box-like member 40 isprovided and this member has an arm 41 extending outwardly therefromwhich is pivotally held to a lug 42 arranged on the casing so that thebox-like member with its contact 27 may move upward on its pivot. Apneumatic element 43 is located within the box-like member 40 and saidelement is adapted at its lower surface to rest upon the head 44 of adevice 45. This device 45 has a stem portion 46 one end of which passesthrough an aperture 47 in the bottom of the box-like member 40 and isadapted to rest upon a lug or projection 48 extending outwardly from therear plate member 11 of the casing. This lug forms a lower support forthe box-like member 40 and an abutment against which the lower end ofthe stem 46 is adapted to engage. A pipe or hose connection 49 entersthe boxlike member 40 at one end and is attached to the pneumatic member43, and at the other end said connection passes through the easing andis attached to the hose 18 so that the same pressure within the hose 18will pass through the branch pipe 49 to inflate the member 43 which maybe of rubber or other form of device.

It will be evident that when the pump is in operation, the air in goingthrough the branch pipe 49 will inflate and expand the member 43 andwill press upon the head 44. The lower end of the device 45 resting uponthe fixed lug 48 will cause the member 40 to rock on its pivot and moveaway from the lug 48 and in doing so will cause the switch contacts 27and 28 as well as the lever 29 to move upward therewith. This movementwill be such that the arm 29 will again enter the slot 36 and be heldagainst movement by the latch 33 until again released by another coin,as already described. As soon as the coupling 20 is disconnected fromthe inflating valve of the tire the pressure being reduced will causethe member 43 to be de fiated and this will permit the member 40 tolower either by gravity or by a spring 50 provided for that purpose, oneend of said spring being secured to the member 40 and the other end tothe casing. The lowering of the member 40 will separate the switchmembers 27 and 28, thereby breaking the circuit and stopping the motorand consequently the pump. If desired, the operating handle 29 may beprovided with a pin or projection 50 to engage the upper portion of themember 40 to assist in raising the operating switch or lever 29 in itsupward movement.

In Fig. 3 the construction is substantially the same as in Fig. 2 exceptthat the latch is pressed in one direction by a light spring 51. Thelatch end has a lip 52 to engage under the switch arm and a recess 53 toreceive a projectingpart 54 on the said switch arm. The latch as in theother form is re leased by the weight of the coin and as soon as the armis operated to close the electric circuit the coin which rests on thetop of said arm against the latch will be permitted to drop to thebottom of the casing or into a receptacle provided therefor.

Fig. 4 shows how a cylinder and piston may be used instead of theinflatable element 43. Here the member 55 carries the switch member 28and is pivoted to swing upward in a similar manner and for the samepurpose as the member 40. The mem ber carries a cylinder 56 to one endof which is held the contact 28, and to which is connected the branchpipe 49 from the pump to permit air to enter at one end of saidcylinder. A piston 57 is movable in the cylinder and the piston rod 58passes through the cylinder and bears against the fixed lug 48 to raisethe member 55 as already described, there being a spring 59 provided torestore the member to its normal position when the air pressure in thecylinder is reduced.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that simple and eflicient means isprovided where by pneumatic tires may be inflated by coin controlledmeans; that simple means is provided whereby an electrically operatedpump may be set in action; that the coin con trolled means is adaptedfor use in connection with any source of air supply; and that simplemeans is provided whereby the desired air pressure may be obtained forthe proper inflation of the tire.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Let ters Patent g 1. The combination of an air pump, an electricmotor, an arm, a switch member carried by said arm, a second switchmember, means forming an electric connection between the switch membersand the motor, means for conveying the air away from said pump underpressure, means adapted normally to hold the arm against movement andadapted to be released to adapt the arm carrying the switch member to bemoved relatively to the other switch member to close the circuit, andmeans connected to the pump adapted to automatically restore the arm toa locked position and to automatically stop the motor and pump byreduction of pressure of the air.

2. The combination of an air pump,an electric motor, an arm, a switchmember carried by said arm, a second switch member, means forming anelectric connection between the switch members and the motor, means forconveying the air away from the pump under pressure, means adaptednormally to hold the arm against movement and adapted to be released topermit the arm carrying the switch member to be moved relatively to theother switch member to close the circuit, and means connected to thepump adapted to antomatically restore the arm to a locked posi tion andto automatically stop the motor and pump.

3. The combination of an arm, a switch member carried by said arm, asecond switch member, a normally open electric circuit including theswitch members, a source of air supply, means for conveying the airunder pressure, means included in the electric circuit to shut off orpermit the air to flow, means adapted normally to hold the arm againstmovement and adapted to be released to permit the arm carrying theswitch member to be moved relatively to the other switch member to closethe circuit, and means whereby the circuit may be automatically opened.

4:. The combination of an air pump, an arm, means whereby the arm maystop or permit the pump to operate, means for conveying air away fromthe pump under pressure, means adapted normally to hold the arm againstmovement and adapted to be released to permit the arm member to be movedto set the pump in operation, and means connected to the pump adapted toautomatically restore the arm to a locked position and to automaticallystop the pump.

5. The combination of a switch arm, a movable switch element, means fornormally holding the switch arm against movement, means whereby theswitch arm may be released to permit the same to be manually operated, asource of air supply, a normally open electric circuit controlling thesource of air supply and connected to the switch members, and meanscontrolled by the pres sure of air whereby the switch arm may beautomatically restored to a locked position and the circuitautomatically broken.

6. The combination of a switch arm, a movable witch element, means fornormally holding the switch arm against movement, means whereby theswitch arm may be released to permit the same to be manually operated, asource of air supply, a normally open electric circuit controlling thesource of air supply and connected to the switch members, and meanscontrolled by the pressure of air whereby the switch arm may beautomatically restored to a locked position and the circuitautomatically broken.

7. The combination of an arm, means for normally holding the arm againstmovement, means whereby the arm may be released to permit the same to bemanually operated, a source of air supply, and means connected with thesource of air supply whereby through the pressure of air the arm .may beautomatically restored to a locked position and the air supplyautomatically shut off.

8. The combination of a switch arm, a

movable switch element, means for normally holding the switch armagainst movement, means whereby the switch arm may be released to permitthe same to be manually operated, a source of air supply, a normallyopen electric circuit controlling the source of air supply and connectedto the switch members, and means connected to the source of air supplywhereby through the pressure of the air the circuit may be automaticallyopened and the supply of air shut oif, 9. The combination of a switcharm, a movable switch element, means for normally holding the switch armagainst movement, means whereby the switch arm may be released to permitthe same to be manually operated to close the circuit, a source of airsupply, a normally open electric circuit controlling the source of airsupply and connected to the switch members, and means connected with thesource of air supply whereby through the pressure of the air the circuitmay be automatically opened and the supply of air shut ofi'.

10. The combination of a manually operated arm, a source of air supply,switch members having a relative movement and adapted to have thecircuit closed therethrough by the movement of said arm, a normally openelectric circuit controlling thesource of air supply and including theswitch members, a gravity latch adapted to hold the arm against movementor to permit the same to be released, and bodily movable means connectedto the source of air &

supply adapted to move the switch mem bers to a position to have thelatch lock the arm against movement and to cause the switch members tobe moved apart by reduction of pressure of the air to automatically shutoil the source of air supply.

11. The combination of a manually operated arm, a source of air supply,switch members having a relative movement and adapted to have thecircuit closed therethrough by the movement of said arm, a normally openelectric circuit controlling the source of air supply and including theswitch members, a gravity latch adapted to hold the arm against movementor to per mit the same to be released, and bodily movable meansconnected to the source of air supply adapted to move the switch membersto a position to have the latch lock the arm against movement and tocause the switch members to be moved apart by reduction of pressure ofthe air to automatically shut off the source or air supply.

12. The combination of a manually operated arm, a source of air supply,switch members having a relative movement and adapted to have thecircuit closed therethrough by the movement of said arm, a normally openelectric circuit controlling the source of air supply and including theswitch members, a gravity latch adapted to hold the arm against movementor to permit the same to be released, and means connected to the sourceof air supply adapted to move the arm to have the latch lock the armagainst movement and to cause the switch members to be moved apart toautomatically shut off the source of air supply.

13. The combination of a source of air supply, a manually operated arm,means whereby the arm may control the source of air supply, means forholding the arm against movement or permitting the same to bereleased, apivotally held member, a pneumatic element carried by said member andconnected to the source of air supply, an abutment, a device actuated bythe pneumatic element adapted to move the member on its pivotby thepressure of the air from the source of supply to move the arm to alocked position, and means whereby on'the reduction of pressure themember may be moved and by such movement shut oil the air supply.

14:. The combination of a source of air supply, a manually operated arm,means whereby the arm may permit the air to flow from the source ofsupply, means for holding the arm against movement or permitting thesame to be released, a pivotally held member, means carried by saidmember and connected to the source of air supply, an abutment, a deviceactuated by the last men tioned means adapted to move the member on itspivot to move the arm to a locked position, and means whereby the membermay be moved and by such movement shut off the air supply.

15. The combination of a source of air supply, means whereby the air maybe permitted to flow from the source of air supply, a pivotally heldmember, a pneumatic element carried by said member and connected to thesource of air supply, an. abutment, a device actuated by the pneumaticelement adapted to move the member on its pivot by the pressure of thesource of supply, and means whereby on the reduction of pressure themember may be moved and by such movement shut off the source of supply.

This specification signed and witnessed this 23rd day of August A. D.1912.

FREDERICK A. RUFF. iVitnesses LILLIAN I. MAYER, Lnsrim C. TAYLOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

